Shaking off the rust type of show, as many "first of the year" shows tend to be.
"Althea" is sung and played really well, Jerry sounds definitely into it. "Women Are Smarter" is also a real nice version. And "Johnny B. Goode" genuinely rocks. "Cold Rain and Snow" is vocally good, but (as a reviewer pointed out below) doesn't have anything particularly distinctive about it otherwise.
The three "comp-worthy" tracks for my money are "Althea", "Women Are Smarter", and "Johnny B. Goode".

This sounds INCREDIBLE.
So very, very well-done. Thank you!
Headphones, and the music is swirling and swirling.
Sublime.

89 best year since 78? really? Late 78 (Keith's worst period) had some great shows /playing by everyone else. 79 was AWESOME. the early 79 shows were basically an extension of the great playing except for Kieth who was consistently AWFUL in that last tour. The early 79 and particularly fall 79 shows were AWESOME. I could go thru this period show by show. 1980 saw a big change in the play/arrangements shorter more consise but never the less most of 79 thru most of 81 was better than most of 89. Bad recordings from 81(in particular) dont help the anaysis.
Bottom line 89 was a good year. Great for the period but on the whole 78 thru 81 shows were better. The best shows from 78,79,80 or 81 were better than the best of 89

Like this one -- a Tuesday, as it happens.
Definitely uneven, but many, many high moments, including the incredible Phil-led Playin jam, and the slow, loopy, post-space He's Gone, with its amazing interplay btw Jerry and Phil during the instrumental, as Garcia gets a bit lost, everyone stays with him, then, bam, back on it.
But my favorite memory of this show was of a guy who sat next to my crew for a goodly chunk of the second set -- leather jacket, big push-broom late 80s gay mustache -- just a tad out of place at a show, even in the Bay Area. He spent the whole show jotting down notes. Unfortunately, we had to ask him to move when a friend returned to reclaim his seat (this was in what passed for nosebleed territory at the Kaiser -- plenty of other empties that were no worse.)
Next day, I opened the SF Examineer, and there was his picture -- the new, snidely hip pop music writer, reviewing the Dead. Completely trashed the sloppy playing -- especially lack of sync btw Billy and Mickey (for which he had a point, this was an especially bad period for the bowling-balls-in-a-dryer approach to drumming) -- but even more was the horror the horror! of the Deadheads dancing...
Always wondered whether booting him from his seat contributed to his negative review.
Anyway, laughed for days after that...

this was an alright show,not one of the best but it still was good.Yes 89' was there best year since 78, and those 2 years were there best years,I think.I also think 89 was the better year out of the Two.

Debut of We Can Run and Standing on the Moon.
Good Sound. Good Performance. Nothing Amazing but solid throughout. Unusual placement of He's Gone in the backstretch. Cold Rain Set II opener is cool too.

cant agree with the feedback, i think this show sounds great. 1989 was an awesome year. maybe their gratest. Touch of Grey doesnt have quite the energy level as some other versions i've heard, but its definitely an awesome start to an awesome year..
I can just feel Brent's energy on Women are Smarter- great solo in there.....He's Gone sounds pretty damn good too.
If you are a fan of the Brent-era dead, i would definitely give this show a chance.

1st Set: After a thirty-five day break they welcome in 1989 with the truism, "Touch." Thought the tempo and notes are where they should be, the musical sections feel flat and uninpsired. Same with "Stranger" even if the jazzish back-jam at least sounds intricate. "Franklin's" is equally as unexciting but it's also a smooth effortless ride. Then the howlers gladly arise to go out on the prowl, "Rooster." Bobby's slide solo is ridiculously thin. "Althea" is relatively sprightly. All ready for a debut? Brent's awkward, too wordy, folky plea for social and envirnomental justice... "We Can Run" It needs work musically but also because it's rather on-the-nose without enough fierce stridency. "Desolation" is even-measured by a slowpoke pace but Bobby stirs the pot through several verses because of his mastery with Dylan's lyrics. "Ease" is tres casual and leaves ya with an ehh as the set ends.
2nd Set: "Cold" averages out to be quite standard considering the empathetic voices during the 5's makes it ok that there were no blistering solos or riffs. A mildly rousing "Man Smart" is always benefitted from Brent's dependable vitality. And now our first "Standing" It's sololess and a direct, linear reading... but one can sense with the appropriate spaces where the song can reach exalted status. "Playin" does a nice job of allowing the listener to ride its wave. The jam immediately drops its tenor and grips a low tone reminiscient if it was dusk and we were wading through a series of relatively minor obstacles on the rapids. "Drums" continues the pitter/patter til we're awash the waterfall. At first "Space" is like a slow-motion retrospective of all the drops that cascade off our face as we plummet towards the unknown. From 3:20 on it's the unknown. Whereever we've landed it ain't 'sugar and spice and everything nice.' Somewhere near, evil lurks. Brent's reassuring lullabye "I Will Take" offers a sheath of protection from the gathering gloom. Well, that at least temporarily assauges any notion that the boogeyman is out to get...a further confirmation is found with "He's Gone." It's a little slogged down, (kinda wish it was more of the black chain-gang tune, "He's the man...working on the train..." because the steadyness of its beat would have provided a light to home.)but emerges with a strong backbone and an equally squalor-lovin outro. They appear to have hit the 'right' chord and it's "Miracle" time. It's ok stuff that really picks up late 3's/early 4's as it gets ready to reach the finishing line. the "Dew" that ends the set is attacked with gusto. The build elevates to a head-banging glee, but never reaches ultimate transcendence.
Tonight's final selection is from the Chuck Berry catalog: a song about a young guitar-slinger who aspires to see his name in lights... "Johnny B Goode" charging on
3 1/4 stars

We Can Run would make a great addition to any Grateful Dead Bloopers CD! TRAIN WRECK!~

by the time the dead came for this last run at the kaiser the scene had degraded they oversold the tickets and basically it sucked what can you say the dead are for everybody, but the Kaiser was a fun place like a playground it was obvious after this run that they would never play there again don't even remember the music wet to all 3 shows

First We Can Run, and Standing On The Moon.

First new tunes in a while were a pleasant surprise. Nice to have great Healy SB of this show...

Nice sounding show. My friend and I flew in from Philly the night before and were treated to a well played, layed-back California show. They staged a vollyball match before the show, pitting people from different states against each other. Check out the Playin'.